Method of making and assembling bearings and the like



Feb. 13, 1951 I L. R. HEIM METHOD OF MAKING AND ASSEMBLING BEARINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 30, 1944 INVENTOR Lewis B. Hellm- ATTO EYS Patented Feb. 13, 1951 BEARINGS AND THE LIKE Lewis B. Heim, Fair-field, Conn. Application December 30, 1944, Serial N 0. 570,625

This invention relates to bearings and the like, and is a continuation-in-part with respect to applicants copending application Serial No. 460,134,

filed September 29, 1942, Patent No. 2,366,668 for theless, the members having the bearing surfacesare permitted complete freedom of relative movement. Another object is to provide a method of making a bearing of the above nature characterized by simplicity and adapted to be carried on in a practical and efficient way in a minimum of time. Another object is to provide a practical method of assembling bearing elements in such manner as to insure freedom of relative movement in operation and yet dependable mounting in the part by which they are supported.

The invention accordingly consists in the method for making and in the several steps and relation of such steps to one or more of the other steps in the method or art herein set forth.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in which is shown various details of the parts and arrangements of this invention Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention in a so-called rod end bearing;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation taken substantially along the line 2-4 of Fig. 1 with certain parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is a similar view along the same section showing the bearing at a later stage of its mak- Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same section in complete form;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a somewhat modifled construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to these drawings in detail, the part Ill is an outerhousing or supporting member, in this embodiment acting as a rod end, and having formed thereon the shank ll threaded to receive the end of rod i2. The ringlike portion III is merely illustrative of various forms of housing or supporting members in which the bearing is mounted and which may take a variety of forms without departing from the broader features of the invention. This part I II is formed of a strong 2 Claims. (Cl. 29-1495) material such as steel or a suitable alloy and is provided with a central bore l3 extending therethrough. The wall of this bore or hole is preferably given a slight and gradual taper inwardly from each-end toward the center, as indicated at I, this taper resulting in an increase of diameter toward thecenter. Extending about the inner surface of the member III is an inwardly directed abutment l5 which is preferably integral with the ring it, and the side walls of which rest in substantially parallel planes normal to the axis of the bore, and each of which accordingly forms an acute angle with the neighboring inclined surface It.

Positioned within the bore, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is an inner bearing member it, here shown as having a spherical bearing surface, and a bore l1 extending therethrough. This member I6 is preferably formed of hardened steel or the like with a smooth bearing surface adapting it ftzr a running fit in the parts withinwhich it res A pair of annular bushings I8 is formed of any suitable material such as, for example, bronze which is malleable to such extent as to flow when subjected to pressure, later described, and yet not to yield under the compressions to which they are subjected in use. These bushings may be of the cross-section and relative size indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings and with the inner hearing member or ball It in position. The bushings are insertedasshown in Fig. 3 and thereupon each subjected to heavy pressure in an axial direction and each inwardly from the ends of the bore I 3. This pressure may be exerted by apparatus such as described and shown in the drawings of my copending application Serial No. 460,134 hereinbefore referred to. The bushings may be successively forced into their ultimate position or they may move into such positions simultaneously and reach their ultimate position at the same time. As these bushings ride over and in engagement with the surface of the member it, they are expanded outwardly by the increasing diameterof successive transverse sections of the ball. This expanding action brings them into engagement with the respective walls of the abutment I5, their forward ends following a path which is not only axially inward, as above noted, but radially outward. The lateral surfaces or walls of the abutment form obtuse angles with respect to the adjacent surfaces of the member it over which the ends of the bushing l8 are expanded as they are forced inwardly. They accordingly are forced against these walls in a 3 slightly inclined direction and hence the relative angle of these walls aids in forcing the ends of the bushings outwardly into tight interlockin relation to the inner surface of the part III. As these bushings are driven home, there is a swaging action, As well as the above expansion, to bring them into a form and place where they tightly fill the entire space between the members l and I 6 and closely interlock against outward axial movement with respect to the former. This wedging interlocking action holds the inner bearing member 16 against displacement in either axial direction due to the fact that the outer parts of the bushings fit and embrace the surface of the ball as shown in Fig. 4.

The inner edge of the abutment l clears the outer surface of the ball It by a distance so small that the bushings will not enter the crevice thus provided. This space H! accordingly forms a passage for lubricant entirely about the .ball and may be supplied through an oil hole 20 with any desired well known means to close the outer end of the hole. These oil holes 20 may be formed also or alternatively from the end of the chamber in the shank l l, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the latter arrangement permitting the utilization of the end portions of the chamber for the storage of lubricant.

. ,In Fig. 5 is shown a variation of the bearin shown in Fig. 4 in which the abutment I5 is dispensed with. In this case the two abutments 2| on being forced into position meet each other at the central plane as along the line 22. The method of forming this embodiment is substantially identical with that hereinbefore described and it possesses certain advantages in the matter of simplicity and cheapness although lacking certain of the specific advantages of the form shown in Fig. 4. The Fig. 5 embodiment provides for lubrication by the oil hole 23 which is extended through the meeting ends of the bushings, as indicated at 24, so as to lead lubricant direct to the inner bearing member.

The side elevation of the device shown in Fi 5 is substantially identical with that shown at Fig. 1 to represent the construction of Fig. 4.

Due to the smooth surface of the inner bearin member and its relatively smaller diameter as compared with the inner surface of the ring l0, it may be turned within the bushings without turning the latter in the ring with which they are tightly interlocked. If desired, the tightness of the fit between the bushings and the inner bearing member may be relieved if the process is carried on as thus far described.

In the preferred method of carrying on my process I use the following procedure which is of value in various forms of hearings or similar devices. Before the parts are assembled the inner bearing member is heated to a temperature some hundreds of degrees above its normal surroundings but less than such temperature as would tend to draw the temper of, or otherwise injure, this part. This may be done by an oil bath or otherwise, and brings about a substantial expansion thereof. The ball thus heated is placed in position and the parts quickly assembled by the above process, it being understood that the outer parts, due to the absence of heating or difference of material, have no substantial tendency to shrink. Within the short time required to carry on such process, the ball does not appreciably shrink and yet soon afterward it resumes its normal temperature and shrinks so as to leave the desired clearance between its bearing surface and the inner surfaces of the bushings [8. The clearance desired, that is, the degree of relative shrinkage of the heated with respect to the unheated parts, may be controlled by the temperature used and made to bring about exactly the required degree of tightnessor looseness of fit. This feature of the invention may obviously be carried on at extremely low cost and without delaying the remaining steps of the process, and not only expedites but adds to the closeness of fit between the bearing members.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an art in which the various objects of this invention are emciently achieved. The parts are locked together with a maximum of security due to the wedging action exerted by the bushings l8, and

yet the bearing runs with exactly the desired degree of freedom.

As various changes may be made in the various features of this invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing description andthe showing of the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. The herein described art which includes the steps of forming an outer housing member with a hole therethrough, the radial depth of which varies to be greater at portions between than at its ends and which decreases to form a circumferential abutment between said ends, at least one side of said abutment forming an acute angle with the adjacent inner surface r said housing member, inserting in said hole an inner bearing member having surfaces of revolution of increasing diameter in directions from its ends toward its center, forming a bushing of relatively malleable material, forcing said bushing by heavy endwise pressure between said housing and bearing members and thereby expanding it over said inner member into a position and form in which it fits surfaces of said bearing member and abuts against said side of said abutment and interlocks with adjacent inner surfaces of said housing member and also with said abutment side against relative movement in directions normal to said adjacent surface of the housing member.

2. The herein described art of forming a bearing which consists in forming a member with a surface of revolution increasing in transverse diameter from each end toward its center, forming an outer member having a hole therethrough with a substantially smooth surface increasing in diameter toward its center and with an annular abutment extending internally from said surface substantially at the center of the hole, the side walls of said abutment being shaped to form acute angles with the adjacent inner surfaces of said outer member, inserting said first member within said hole in a position with its exposed surfaces at each side of said abutment member,

and forcing relatively malleable bushings in- (References on following Pile) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 558,262 Darling Apr. 14, 1896 1,301,323 Schatz Apr. 22, 1919 1,535,007 Wood Apr. 21, 1925, 1,693,748 Fiegel et a1. Dec. 4, 192a 1,695,017 Kuckuck Dec. 11, 1928 1,734,244 Bingman Nov. 5, 1929 Number 0 Name Date Schultls May 12, 1981, Abegg Aug. 23, 1932 Mackey et a1. Feb. 28, 1933 Ricardo Mar. 7, 1933 Swanson Dec. 25, 1934 Padgett Jan. 8, 1935 Halford Oct. 28, 1941 Luginbill Mar, 24, 1942 Helm Jan. 2, 1945 Elfstrom Apr. 16, 1946 Helm May 21, 1948 

